I. SEASON — The recreational fishing season for black sea bass in all coastal fishing waters north of Cape Hatteras (35° 15’N Latitude) will open from 12:01 A.M. January 1 through midnight on Thursday, February 28, 2013.

II. SIZE AND CREEL LIMITS

A. It is unlawful to possess black sea bass for recreational purposes less than 12 ½ inches in length. Total length shall be measured along the lateral midline from the tip of the nose to the tip tail, excluding the caudal fin filament.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 15 black sea bass per person per day taken for recreational purposes.

C. It is unlawful to possess black sea bass for recreational purposes in coastal fishing waters except during the season specified in I. above.

B. It is unlawful to violate the provisions of any proclamation issued by the Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03H .0103.

C. The intent of this proclamation is to allow North Carolina to comply with the requirements of the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council/Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Management Plan.

D. This proclamation supersedes Proclamation FF-54-2012, dated October 26, 2012, which closed the season. The black sea bass (north of Hatteras) restrictions for the rest of 2013 will be determined at a later date